2023 is coming to an end, and you know what that means: it’s time to count birds! The Christmas Bird Count (CBC), the National Audubon Society’s annual bird census, is right around the corner, and as always, the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society will be joining other Audubon chapters across the western hemisphere to help gather critical data on bird populations for National Audubon’s 124th annual CBC. The San Fernando Valley has been providing CBC data continuously since 1957, so this will be our 67th year participating. Over the years, we have tracked some interesting changes in bird populations within our count circle as The Valley has transitioned from an agricultural area into a more residential one.
On last year’s count, we totaled 135 species and 18,189 individuals, slightly higher than our average of 130 species and 15,984 individuals over the last 20 years. (see February-March 2023 Phainopepla for more details).
In order to properly understand the bird populations in the San Fernando Valley, we need to cover as many parks as possible. CBC participation is free and open to all, and extensive birding experience is not a prerequisite, only a willingness to come out and count, wind, rain, or shine. Nine locations that are putting together teams are listed below. If you are unable to join an existing CBC team, you may count on your own at your backyard feeders, local parks, and anywhere else in your neighborhood, as long as you are within our survey area, which is a 7.5 mile radius of Balboa and Nordhoff (an interactive map of the CBC circle is available here. Please report all bird species, individual numbers of each species, and the time you spent birding to Alexander deBarros by e-mail, alexanderdebarros@yahoo.com no later than January 3, 2024. You may also post your sightings on eBird, but please e-mail the checklist to ensure it gets counted.
Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve and Lake Balboa
Meeting time: 7:30 am
Directions: Exit 405 fwy at Burbank Blvd and head west (turn left if you’re on the northbound side of the freeway, turn right if you’re on the southbound side). Turn right onto Woodley Ave, and take the second right into the wildlife reserve. Meet in the first parking lot on the right. (34.1796770,-118.4797396)
Other stops: none
Terrain: flat
Approximate distance: 8.7 miles
Leader: Alexander deBarros, alexanderdebarros@yahoo.com
Hansen Dam
Meeting time: 8 am
Directions: Exit 5 fwy at Osborne St and head east (turn right if you’re on the northbound side of the freeway, turn left if you’re on the southbound side). Turn right at Dronfield Ave, turn right at the end of Dronfield, and turn right again into the ranger station parking lot. (34.2694287,-118.3964449)
Other stops: none
Terrain: mostly flat, some light hills.
Approximate distance: 8.2 miles
Leader: Pat Bates, batesbird@gmail.com
Sepulveda Golf Courses and Upper L.A. River
Meeting time: 7:00 am
Directions: Exit 101 fwy at Balboa Blvd and head north (turn right if you’re on the northbound side of the freeway, turn left if you’re on the southbound side). Immediately turn right onto Burbank Blvd. After the light at Hayvenhurst Ave, take the first possible right into the Hjelte Sports Center parking lot. (34.1667806,-118.4862473)
Other stops: Encino and Balboa Golf Courses, L.A. River (Owensmouth Ave to Vanalden Ave), Randal D. Simmons Park, and L.A. River & Aliso Creek Confluence Park.
Terrain: Flat. L.A. River, Randal D. Simmons Park, and L.A. River & Aliso Creek Confluence Park will probably be covered by bike
Approximate distance: 3.75 miles walking, 8.65 miles biking
Leader: Daniel Tinoco, dant1999@gmail.com
Bull Creek, Sepulveda Sports Complex, and Balboa Sports Center
Meeting time: 8:00 am
Directions: Exit 101 fwy at Balboa Blvd and head north (turn right if you’re on the northbound side of the freeway, turn left if you’re on the southbound side). Take the second possible right into Anthony C. Beilenson Park/Lake Balboa. Meet in the first dirt parking lot on the left. (34.1814216,-118.4983283)
Other stops: none
Terrain: mostly flat
Approximate distance: 4.2 miles
Leader: Rose Leibowitz, roselbirds@gmail.com
Reseda and Encino Parks
Meeting time: 7:30 am
Directions: Note, group will meet in McDonald’s parking lot at 7:30. Exit 101 fwy at White Oak Ave and head south (turn left if you’re on the northbound side of the freeway, turn right if you’re on the southbound side). Turn left onto Ventura Blvd, and immediately turn left again into the McDonald’s parking lot. Look for birders in the lot (we’re the ones with binoculars). (34.1624623,-118.5175456))
Other stops: Reseda Park, Encino Park, Los Encinos State Historic Park, Deervale-Stone Canyon Park
Terrain: flat at Reseda Park, Encino Park, and Los Encinos State Historic Park, moderate hills at Deervale-Stone Canyon Park
Approximate distance: 4.5 miles
Leader: David and Kathy Barton, dagnabbit1956@yahoo.com
Chatsworth Hillside Parks
Meeting time: 6:00 am
Directions: Exit 118 fwy at Topanga Canyon Blvd and head south (turn left if you’re on the westbound side of the freeway, turn right if you’re on the eastbound side). Turn right onto Devonshire St. Follow Devonshire till it ends at Chatsworth Park South. (34.2604461,-118.6177134)
Other stops: Stoney Point Park, Chatsworth Park North, Oakwood Cemetery, Chatsworth Oaks Park, Chase Park, Lee’s Lake
Terrain: Moderate to steep hills at Stoney Point Park and Chatsworth Oaks Park, mostly flat with some light hills at Chase Park and Chatsworth Park South, flat at Chatsworth Park North, Oakwood Cemetery, and Lee’s Lake
Approximate distance: 8 miles total
Leader: Robin Share, robindshare@gmail.com
Veteran’s Park and Stetson Ranch Park
Meeting time: 8:00 am
Directions: Exit 210 fwy at Hubbard St and head east (turn right if you’re on the westbound side, turn left if you’re on the eastbound side). Turn left on Eldridge Ave, then right on Sayre St. Turn left where Sayre St ends, and meet in the parking lot at the end of this road. (34.,-118.)
Other stops: Stetson Ranch Park
Terrain: Light hills at Veteran’s Park, moderate to steep hills at Stetson Ranch
Approximate distance: 5 miles total
Leader: TBA, please contact alexanderdebarros@yahoo.com for the latest information
Hansen Dam Golf Course
Meeting time: 8:00 am
Directions: Exit 5 fwy at Osborne St and head east (turn right if you’re on the northbound side of the freeway, turn left if you’re on the southbound side). Turn right onto Glenoaks Blvd, left onto Montague St, and meet in the parking lot at the end of the road.
Other stops: Pacoima Wash Natural Park, Sylmar Park
Terrain: Flat
Approximate distance: 3 miles
Leader: TBA, please contact alexanderdebarros@yahoo.com for the latest information
Old Mission Trail and Lower Limekiln Canyon
Meeting time: 8:00 am
Directions: Exit 118 fwy at Tampa Ave and head south (turn left if you’re on the westbound side, turn right if you’re on the eastbound side). Turn right onto Tunney Ave, and meet across from Calvin Ave.
Other stops: None
Terrain: Light to Moderate hills
Approximate distance: 6.5 miles
Leader: TBA, please contact alexanderdebarros@yahoo.com for the latest information